Heraldry of Willowdark

NERO Kentucky Heraldry Packet

(1.0 May 2007 Edition)

This document includes the Heraldry in use in the Territory of Willowdark and to a lesser extent those of surrounding lands that may be occasionally seen within Willowdark or may be seen by travelers from Willowdark to surrounding lands.

Rules for Heraldic Arms in Willowdark

The use and awarding of arms in Willowdark is governed by the Sovereign, as overseen through the College of Heraldry and Bardic Arts of the Willowdark Academy. One who is elevated to the nobility or otherwise allowed to create arms should contact the College of Heraldry and Bardic Arts to design their insignia and register it properly.

The use of Arms lawfully granted by a foreign nation is legal, but they shall not be used to indicate official status as arms of the State of Willowdark or to otherwise wrongfully claim lineage, authority, nobility or other right or heritage not lawfully established.

Wrongfully using Arms to which one is not entitled is a crime. Falsely using the arms of a nobleman may be considered Impersonating a Noble (if used to claim nobility) or even Treason (if used as Forgery of an article of a nobleman), or Counterfeiting and Forgery otherwise.

Arms within Willowdark fall into two broad categories: Personal Arms, and Organizational Arms. Personal Arms are those granted to a specific single person for their use. This is most often seen with Nobility, although Commoners are sometimes awarded this privilege. Organizational Arms are Arms belonging to an organization, such as an adventuring company, military order, or guild. Those entitled to use Organizational Arms who are given a grant of personal arms may request that their arms be quartered with those of their Organization.

Arms within Willowdark are not normally inherited, arms are unique to the person granted and are not inherited as part of an estate.

Restricted Charges and Tinctures

The charge of the Griffin is the personal symbol of the Lord Regent Teerik Willowdark, and its use is restricted to him alone, or those who use it with his specific permission.

The color purple (purpure) is normally associated with sovereignty and rulership, and is generally limited to those who are noble, not commoners, except commoners in direct personal service to nobility.

The color red (gules) is normally associated with war, and is generally limited to the arms of the military, Knights, and those who have achieved their grant of arms through martial skill.

The colors black (sable) and white (argent) together as the field is generally limited to the arms of official entities of Willowdark, as these colors together represent the state.

Who is entitled to a heraldic grant of Arms?

Generally, to wear a coat of arms you must fall into one of four categories.

1. Be nobility or royalty (including the Sovereign) of Willowdark.

2. Be granted personal Arms by the Sovereign through the College of Heraldry and Bardic Arts

3. Be a member of an organization (civil or military) that has been granted a coat of arms and be allowed by the leadership of that organization to wear its arms.

4. Be a Nobleman or Commoner of Courtly Station (an “official” such as a Magistrate, Sheriff, Seneschal, Guild Steward or Guildmaster) and be allowed to wear the Arms of Willowdark to denote official business on behalf of Willowdark.

What are the various types of arms?

The Arms of Willowdark: The symbol of Willowdark as a nation.

The Arms of the Sovereign of Willowdark: The personal arms of the ruler of Willowdark

The Arms of Nobility: Arms granted to the nobility as personal symbols of rulership and office

The Arms of the Military: Arms granted to military organizations as symbols of their service to the state

The Arms of Guilds, Institutions, and Academies: Arms of organizations chartered to promote knowledge, science, magic and the arts.

The Arms of Independent Companies, Private Orders and Chartered Groups: Arms of private organizations used to represent themselves.

The Arms of Foreign States: Arms of foreign states used to represent themselves, or foreign granted arms not registered in Willowdark.

The Arms of Willowdark

The Arms of Willowdark are the colors of Willowdark as a Nation. They may be used by the Sovereign or any Nobleman, Official, or Officer in the service of Willowdark to denote their status as an arm of the state. When used they denote an official character to a message, object or action.

Per pale sable and argent

The Arms of Willowdark

The Sovereign

The Sovereign of Willowdark is entitled to whatever heraldic arms he so may desire.

By tradition the Sovereign uses the Arms of Willowdark as the base of his personal arms and adds whatever charges, ordinaries or subordinaries to the field as he may choose.

Per pale sable and argent, a griffin segreant per pale argent and sable

The Arms of Lord Regent Teerik Willowdark, First Sovereign of Willowdark

Nobility

Noblemen of Willowdark are entitled to personal heraldic arms. They may also choose to use the Arms of Willowdark in lieu of their personal arms if they choose, to reflect their role as an arm of the state. They may also choose to display their personal arms on their clothing, shields, or fly them as a banner from their residence or keep.

Vert, on a Bend Sinister Argent a Dragon Rampant Sable

The Arms of Lord Tel’Daarn Ebonwyrm of Elmrisen

Argent, on a Saltire Azure, a Book Closed Or, Tooled Argent

The Arms of Lord Guildmaster Cirin Icerider

Azure, on a Bend Sinister Argent, an eight pointed estoille sable

The Arms of Lord Ryric of Wayside, Guildmaster of the Willowdark Guild of Scribes and Astrologers

Guilds, Institutions, and Academies

Lawfully chartered guilds and other civil institutions of the state may have arms to represent themselves. As these organizations can be quite large and have many members and levels of membership, the leaders of these organizations can determine what members may use these arms.

Argent, a Saltire Azure, a Cross Fillet Vert, on an Escutcheon of Pretence, Per Pale Sable and Argent

The Arms of the Guilds of Willowdark

The Guilds of Willowdark are the three official chartered guilds to manage and regulate affairs of magic and trade within Willowdark as well as the operation of Willowdark Academy as a center of learning.

As the arms of the Guilds as a whole and the Academy, the Guildmasters and Guild Stewards of the Guilds of Willowdark and the Professors of the Academy may use these arms.

The Willowdark Militia, Rangers of Willowdark, and the Elite Guard

Members of a military organization in the direct sworn service of Willowdark and owing fealty to the Sovereign may wear the heraldic insignia of their organization along with whatever insignia of rank or position or uniform as their organization may require (also subject to the restrictions of their organization). Reflecting their status as enforcers of the state and in direct service to Willowdark and the Sovereign they may incorporate the Arms of Willowdark into their organizational arms. Members of military services who possess personal arms (by nobility or special permission) may wear their personal arms or the arms of their organization.

Per Pale Sable and Argent, on a Saltire Gules, a Sword Paleways Argent, Pommelled and Hilted Azure

The arms of The Willowdark Militia

The Willowdark Militia is the army of citizen-soldiers who act as the primary military forces of Willowdark. These arms may be used by all militiamen of the rank of Warrant Officer or higher.

Per Chevron Vert and Gules, on an Escutcheon of Pretence, Per Pale Sable and Argent, over all an Arrow, point downwards Or in chief.

The arms of the Rangers of Willowdark

The Rangers of Willowdark are an order of highly skilled warriors and woodsmen who patrol Willowdark as a whole and act as envoys of the Sovereign.

These arms may be used by all members of the Rangers

Per Cross Or and Gules, on an Escutcheon of Pretence, Per Pale Sable and Argent

The arms of the Elite Guard of Willowdark

The Elite Guard of Willowdark is an order of Knights and Soldiers in direct personal service to the Sovereign.

These arms may be used by all members of the Elite Guard

Orders and Honorable Companies

Lawfully chartered private orders or other honorable companies (such as recognized adventuring groups) may be granted heraldic arms to use to represent their interests. Independent organizations may not use the Arms of Willowdark in their arms as this would imply that they are an element of the state.

Members of these organizations may use the arms of their organization at the discretion of the leader of that organization. They may grant the right to use the arms to officers of their organization, to all members, or any combination they see fit.

Vert, a Bend Sinister Argent

The Arms of Avalon’s Crown

Avalon’s Crown is an adventuring and mercantile company in the Kingdom of Stonegate and in the Territory of Willowdark.

Argent, an Annulet Sable

The Arms of the Circle of Thorns

The Circle of Thorns is an adventuring company in the Territory of Willowdark

Note that although their arms include only argent and sable, this is not official arms and exists as an exception because these arms were established before the Arms of Willowdark were established.

Per Saltire Or and Azure, a Saltire Grey, on an Escutcheon of Pretence, Sable, a Bordure Argent, a Sword Paleways Argent

The Arms of the Lumberton Merchant Guild

The Lumberton Merchant Guild was originally founded as Merchant House Starlen in 598, it is a trading company active in The Kingdom of Stonegate, especially the Principality of Dylleria. After the death of Garrett Starlen in 602, it was reorganized as the Lumberton Merchant Guild. Note the use of the nonstandard grey color in the arms.

Meritorious Commoners

At the discretion of the Sovereign of Willowdark, which may be delegated at his discretion, and with the advice of College of Heraldry and Bardic Arts of the Willowdark Academy, commoners of Willowdark may be granted personal heraldic arms. This may include successful military leaders or commoners of courtly station. Personal arms of a commoner should not have the colors sable (black) and argent (white or silver) together on the field as this is too close to the Arms of Willowdark and could be mistaken for official arms.

The Arms of Other Nations

Per Fess Tenne and Vert, A Royal Crown Argent, a Book Open Argent, Bound Sable in chief Impaling Argent, a Sword Paleways Inverted

The Arms of the Concordance of Avalon

The Concordance of Avalon is the international council formed in 599 E.R. by the Accords of Avalon. The Concordance of Avalon chartered in 601 E.R. the expedition that would establish the Territory of Willowdark

Per Cross Sable and Argent, two Lions Rampant Or

The Arms of the Kingdom of Evendarr

The Kingdom of Evendarr is the largest Kingdom on the Continent of Avalon, ruling most of the Eastern half of the continent. A founding member of the Concordance of Avalon, Evendarr is an ally of Willowdark.

Gules, a Lion Rampant Or Reversed, a Bordure Sable

The Arms of the Kingdom of Stonegate

The Kingdom of Stonegate is a large kingdom to the North of Willowdark founded in 525 by settlers into the area now known as Dylleria. Although there is no formal treaty with Willowdark, relations with Stonegate are peaceful and prosperous and gestures of goodwill have been made by both sides.

Azure, a Hammer Or

The Arms of the Emurian Empire

The Emurian Empire was to the Northeast of Willowdark. It fell to Stonegate in 599 E.R., although a small remnant called the “New Empire” tries to reconquer former Imperial territory.